Tuesday, February 16, 2016

PARADOX

The great paradox of American politics is this: why does
Congress enjoy a mere eight percent approval rating by the American people, and
yet almost all members of Congress are repeatedly reelected? Putting it another
way, why do people who are adamantly opposed to career politicians regard
seniority in Congress as a reason to vote for an incumbent?

In 1992, columnist George Will wrote a book entitled
“Restoration.” It was and is a forceful argument for term limits.

His first proposition is generic. He argues that Congress
has a bad image and that term limits would make it more popular. That may be
true to an extent. Congress doesn’t want term limits and if the public somehow
rises up and forces them to accept term limits, there would surely be, for a
while at least, a general public sentiment that the tiger has been tamed and
the miscreants brought to account.

But what really would be changed?

A principal complaint against career politicians is that
they get too cozy with lobbyists. The fact is that political campaigns cost
money. Lots of money. Members of Congress are continually in fund raising mode.
The people who are most likely to support an incumbent financially are those
whose economic interests are affected by what the member does or does not do.

The plain truth is that there is a river of dollars flowing
from K Street, wheremany lobbyists have
their offices, to the nation’s capital. The plain truth is that the longer a
Member serves, the more seniority he or she has, the greater their ‘clout’ and
the easier it is to raise money.

That river, and the corruption of representative government
it carries, is a very real failing of our current system. Its tributaries feed
the spirit of partisanship, foster the expansion of bureaucracy, and irrigate a
vast field of omnibus legislation replete with subsidies, exemptions, and
exclusions that are the price of campaign support.

But I would like to ask George Will this question: What will
Congressional term limits do about it? Obviously, a term limited Congressman
will not be raising money for reelection during his last term; but he or she
may very well be raising money to run for another office, so the K Street River
may well continue to flow into his campaign fund.

Certainly the term limited politician will have to be
looking for a safe harbor somewhere. Will he or she apply to corporations that
have been benefitted by their efforts in Congress? When you are looking for a
job, it’s nice to have friends.

And what exactly do you suppose the corporate interests will
do about the Congressional seat that is about to be vacated due to term limits?
Obviously, they will be looking for a replacement, who, having been recruited
and financed by the client, will happily take over just where their predecessor
left off.

And then what? The new term limited Member immediately begins
paddling down the K Street River. Nothing has changed. The new office holder
will immediately begin raising money for his or her re-election.

The fact that term limits force a turn over in Congressional
office is undeniable and is generally a good thing. But I have compared it to
taking cough drops to treat lung cancer.

The real cause of the K Street River is the size of the
Congressional districts. The Constitution provides that Representatives shall
be apportioned among the States according to their respective numbers. The
Founders expected that the House of Representatives would grow with the
country. It hasn’t.

The Congress has frozen the size of the House at 435 people.
The result is that every ten years the constituencies get larger. Members of Congress
now represent an average of nearly a million people. Which is why campaigns are
expensive. Which is why challengers have so much difficulty unseating
incumbents.

Nothing is more preposterous or indefensible than the idea
that the number of representatives to which the American people are entitled is
limited by the size of the chamber or the number of desks we have. Modern
technology makes communication simple. There is no reason why representatives
have to gather in one room.

1 comment:

Well said Sir!! They are never in the same room anyway! Texas Legislators Offices have TVs they only rush in when they have to "Vote"! Could do the same thing from Computer at home or work! Vote~ back to work earning living for family, retirement, etc. Precisely why we need the 6(1)66 True Voluntary Representation through the airwaves! Money out of the equation! NEXT~ New good ole red blooded Americans (consanguinity~ of the blood as in the Declaration) regular folk we truly know showing up for their two years. Our Founding Fathers SET TERM LIMITS in the Articles of our Constitution ~ Two, Four, Six Period!! What do we have to do? Challenge somewhere? AND stop this Silly Season (money used build homes for homeless, Vets, I'll take one etc) repealing 17th Amendment. Originally State Legislatures make a list of Presidential Candidate Names their state One from another state. Put em in an envelope seal send to the gathered Congress. President of the Senate (VP) opens the envelopes....AND the WINNER IS on Jan 1st!! Out with the old in with the new!! Senators sent by State Legislatures. NO Money!! Easy Peacey!May God continue to bless your efforts.Kindest Regards,Ginger SchaeferTexas 005 Delegate

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